DK177590B1

DK177590B1 - A bed system

Info

Publication number: DK177590B1
Application number: DKPA201370180A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Joern Georg Andersen
Original assignee: Neuro Vision Holding Aps
Priority date: 2013-03-30
Filing date: 2013-03-30
Publication date: 2013-11-04
Also published as: WO2014161550A1

Abstract

There is provided a bed system comprising a base frame to be supported by a floor, a bed frame having a cavity for filling with a flexible material, and an overlay mattress covering the flexible material and the upper surface of the bed frame. The upper surface of the bed frame and the upper surface of the flexible mattress material are in the same plane thereby supporting the overlay mattress.

Description

5 i DK 177590 B1

A BED SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bed system, such as a hospital bed system, comprising a base frame to be supported by a floor, a bed frame having a cavity for filling with a flexible material, and an overlay mattress covering the flexible material and the upper surface of the bed frame. Specifically, the upper surface of the bed frame and 10 the upper surface of the flexible mattress material are in the same plane thereby evenly supporting the overlay mattress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

15

Mattresses for hospital beds are well known in the art. While such mattresses according to the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations.

20 Typically, hospital beds are used to provide a support surface for patients or other individuals for treatment or rest. Many such patient supports include a frame, a deck supported by the frame, a mattress, side rails configured to block egress of a patient from the mattress, and a controller configured to control one or more features of the bed.

25 In a hospital bed, including those used in nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, it is known to be able to adjust the height of the sleeping surface (e.g., the patient's mattress). For example, the sleeping surface is placed relatively low so that the patient can easily get up by himself, if permitted to do so, or even lower to limit the risk of injury in the event of a fall.

30

Inflatable bed systems are also known. Such known inflatable bed systems are capable of being used in conjunction with bed frames built to accommodate nonadjustable mattresses and foundations. A platform is provided, and support means are positioned above the platform. Inflatable bags are positioned between the platform and the support 35 means. Although inflatable mattresses have some advantages they are not as such 2 DK 177590 B1 suitable as the only mattress to support a patient. Only expensive mattress materials can be used as the only mattress to properly support a patient. However, such expensive mattresses are normally not implemented in hospitals.

5 The prior art does not disclose hospital beds, wherein superior mattress properties are achieved in a cost efficient way. Neither does the prior art disclose mattresses that can be changed and washed in an easy way.

The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other 10 drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

15 The present invention provides a bed system comprising: - a base frame to be supported by a floor; -a bed frame, preferably made from aluminum, having a cavity for filling with a flexible material, such as a mattress material, said bed frame having upper, lower, and side surfaces; 20 - an actuator interconnecting the base frame and the bed frame to cause the bed frame to move relative to the base frame; -a flexible mattress material fitting the bed frame; and -an overlay mattress covering the flexible material and the upper surface of the bed frame, said overlay mattress is made from a viscoelastic material, such as memory 25 foam; wherein the upper surface of the bed frame and the upper surface of the flexible mattress material are in the same plane thereby evenly supporting the overlay mattress.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the flexible mattress material is 30 inflatable, such as one or more inflatable mattress modules. Preferably, the inflatable mattress is equipped with one or more pressure sensors to check if the correct pressure is maintained. Hence, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the pressure sensors are coupled via a controller and an air delivery means, such as pump, to regulate the pressure.

35 3 DK 177590 B1

In an alternative embodiment the flexible mattress material is made from one or more foam blocks fitting the cavity of the bed frame.

The present invention is based on the cost reduction in avoiding an expensive mattress 5 but using a thinner and thus cheaper overlay mattress that rest on the flexible material.

Moreover, the area of upper surface of the bed frame is preferably 15-40%, preferably 20-35%, more preferably 25-30%, of the upper surface of the flexible mattress material. Thereby the bed laying person rests (through the overlay mattress) on both the upper surface of the frame and the flexible mattress material.

10

In another embodiment of the present invention the system further comprises a device for holding a sheet laid in place on the overlay mattress, said device including an inflatable tube placed in a groove along the circumference of the bed frame, said device holding the sheet in place when inflated.

15

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an elevated view of the bed frame and the cavity.

20

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the bed frame with cavity filled with mattress material and covered with the overlay mattress.

25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a bed system with a bed frame comprising a cavity and an insert to fit said cavity. The bed system provides a specialized bed frame with a cavity for the mattress insert. The insert, placed within the bed frame cavity may 30 produce the same inherent qualities of an ordinary mattress, i.e. good flexibility at high loads. The insert may be based on foam blocks or inflatable mattress module(s). The present invention can enable a hospital to adapt the flexibility of the support for patients with differing mattress support requirements. The major advantage of the present invention is that any flexible material can be used in the cavity, while a more expensive 35 overlay mattress provides for optimum support and comfort. In accordance with the 4 DK 177590 B1 present invention the overlay mattress is made from a high quality mattress material (e.g. TEMPUR or another viscoelastic material) that is supported by the frame in the periphery (edge) area of the bed where no particular flexibility is required. In the mid regions of the bed, where the body requires good mattress properties, support is 5 provided by the combination of the flexible material in the cavity and the overlay mattress. Thus, high comfort is achieved while up to 40 % of a high quality mattress is saved due to the thinner overlay mattress and the reduced area of the cavity (where the bed frame provides support), which is filled with inexpensive flexible material (insert).

10 The insert may be formed from materials of varying densities, thereby being capable of support for persons of varying weights. The mattress may comprise a plurality of cavities and a plurality of inserts to provide differing support capabilities in differing positions in the mattress. The mattress may also be made from a foam product.

15 The inserts may be made from variable densities of foam. A lighter density or a piece of foam product that is less firm may be used for lighter people, a medium density of foam product may be used for average people, and a high density of foam product for heavier people. The exact size or depth or shape or design of the insert is entirely up to the designer.

20

This mattress insert is unique in that the mattress may be utilized as a particular type of mattress for a particular type of patient, such as the patient who has bed sores or might develop bed sores. Yet, it also may be used as a standard mattress for any other hospital patient. In the hospital, if the insert becomes contaminated, it may be disposed 25 of and replaced. Different inserts formed from materials of varying densities may be used to provide support for persons of varying weights.

Any type of insert may be used which can comprise a plurality of individual support elements. The plurality of individual support elements may have a base to aid in the 30 independent support capability of each of the plurality of individual support elements.

Any materials may be used to form the plurality of individuals support elements.

As stated, the plurality of individual support elements of the invention may be made from a foam product by cutting this into foam blocks. A foam product may comprise any 35 product of flexible foam, polyurethane, foam rubber, and any other comparable product.

5 DK 177590 B1

The mattress materials described above are easily adaptable for hospital use for many types of patients, and can provide an inexpensive mattress for use by a patient for whom decubitus ulcers or bed sores may be a problem. They can also provide a relatively light 5 mattress, easily adaptable for hospital use, for many types of patients.

Concerning the overlay mattress it is recognized by this invention that several characteristics contribute to the effectiveness of the resulting pad used for supporting patients. Such characteristics are e.g. thickness of the overlay, and density of the 10 material comprising overlay.

The overlay mattress effectively mixes and selects the foregoing characteristics of foam materials (e.g. thickness and density) to provide an overlay mattress, which optimizes pressure dispersion for all parts of a patient's body, generally without regard to the 15 nature of the prone position assumed by the patient or the body build of the patient.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an elevated view of the bed frame (1) and the cavity with the elastic mattress material insert (2). The bed frame (1) is mounted on a base frame (not shown), which is supported by a floor. The insert (2) may be one or more 20 foam blocks or an inflatable mattress material; importantly it is flexible and typically made from an inexpensive material.

In Figure 2 there is shown a cross sectional view of the bed frame (1) with cavity filled with mattress material insert (2) and covered with the overlay mattress (3). As can be 25 seen the overlay mattress (3) rests on both the hard bed frame (1), which is typically made from a metal (such as aluminum), and on the insert (2). A patient laying in the bed will then rest with the head (via a pillow) on the hardly supported (by the bed frame) overlay mattress, while major parts of the body will rest on a combination of the insert (2) and the overlay mattress (3). The present inventors have found that the experience is 30 similar to a normal mattress made from the same material as the overlay mattress. This is truly surprising and indeed offers some essential advantages, such as ease of cleaning (the overlay mattress and the insert modules can be washed/cleaned separately) and significant cost reductions (the insert material is inexpensive, and the overlay mattress made an expensive material is thin).

35

Claims

A bed system, such as a hospital bed system, comprising: - a bottom frame to be supported by a floor; 5. a bed frame having a cavity for filling with a flexible material, such as a mattress material, said bed frame having upper, lower and lateral surfaces; an actuator connects the bottom frame and the bed frame so that the bed frame can be moved relative to the bottom frame; - a flexible mattress material adapted to the bed frame, and 10. a top mattress covering the flexible material and the upper surface of the bed frame, said top mattress is made of a viscoelastic material such as memory foam; wherein the area of the upper surface of the bed frame constitutes 15-40% of the area of the upper surface of the flexible mattress material and wherein the upper surface of the bed frame and the upper surface of the flexible mattress material are in the same plane thereby supporting the top mattress.

Bed system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible mattress material is inflatable, such as one or more inflatable mattress modules. 20

The bed system according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable food ras mate ri al is equipped with one or more pressure sensors to check whether the correct pressure is maintained.

Bed system according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensors are coupled via a regulator and air supply means, such as a pump, for regulating the pressure.

Bed system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible mattress material is made of one or more foam blocks adapted to the cavity of the bed frame.

Bed system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the area of the upper surface of the bed frame is 20-35%, preferably 25-30%, of the area of the upper surface of the flexible mattress material.

6 DK 177590 B1

Bed system according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the system further comprises a device for holding a bed in place on the top mattress, which device DK 177590 B1 5 7 comprises an inflatable hose placed in a groove along the circumference of the bed frame. , which device holds the sheet in inflated condition.